Marking device



Jan. 23, 1934. MOORE 1,944,259

MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1932 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNETED STATESFATE FFEQE Application February 6,

26 Claims.

This invention relates to an imprinting or marking device for articlesand has been illustrated as adapted for marking golf balls and the like,although obviously by suitably proportioning and 5 shaping the parts,the imprinting device is applicable to marking or embossing otherarticles.

In the present embodiment of the invention a holder or receiver shapedto approximately conform to the article to be marked, carries at oneside thereof a revoluble imprinting head which is also capable of axialmovement in addition to its rotation whereby pressure is exerted againstthe article to effect an impression thereon of the characters carried bythe revol'uble imprinting head, there being provided upon the holder aretractable inking device to be intermittently projected into contactWith'the imprinting head which, by its rotation, presents succeedingmarking characters in contact with the inking device to receive adeposit of ink therefrom.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction, as Well asthe means and mode of operation of marking devices, and particularlygolf ball markers and the like, whereby they will not only be cheap inconstruction, but will be more efiicient in use, positive in operation,of compact form and small size, of pleasing appearance, and unlikely toget out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking device whichwill subject the article to uniform pressure throughout the area to bemarked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatuswhich will be of small size and compact construction, capable of beingcarried by the golfer in his pocket or in his caddy bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofchase or type carrying head suitable for receiving commercial forms oftype or characters such as are ordinarily used on letter duplicatingmachines.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved pressureapplying means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking device whereinthe application of pressure will be so directed as to obviate danger ofdamaging or weakening the ball or other article. 1

A further and important object of the invention is to provide aconvenient, but simple inking device incorporated in the markingapparatus which can be projected into inking engagement with the type ormarking characters and re- 1932. Serial No. 591,380

tracted into inoperative position without soiling the fingers of theoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an imprinting or markinghead capable of free rotary motion to facilitate the inking of thecharacters, and also capable of an axial movement under pressure forimpressing the inked characters against the ball.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred,but obviously, not necessarily the only form of the embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the marking device formingthe subject matter hereof applied to a golf ball. Fig. 2 is a similarperspective view illustrating the inking roller in operative engagementwith the imprinting or marking head. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalView showing the'inking device in its projected or operative position bysolid lines and by dotted lines showing the retracted or inoperativeposition of such head. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view. Figs/Sand 6are'respectively a top plan view and an axial sectional view of theimprinting or marking head on an enlarged scale. Fig. '7 is a detailperspective View of one of the type removed from the imprinting head.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

While the present marking device has been illustrated and will bedescribed as applied to marking of golf balls, it is to be understoodthat by suitably proportioning the holder or cage to ac.- commodatearticles of other shapes, the apparatus may be adjusted to markingvarious. articles other than golf balls. Therefore while forillustrative purposes, a golf ball marker has been illustrated and willbe described, it is not with the intention of unduly limiting the scopeor application of the invention.

Referring to the drawing the illustrated embodiment of the inventioncomprises a cage like main frame or holder including a series of arcuatearms 1-1 interconnected at their opposite ends to enclose the ball 2 orother article to be marked.

At one juncture of the several arcuate arms 1, there is formed a pallet3 which serves as a platen or abutment for the ball or other articleduring the marking operation, while at a diametrically opposite pointthe curved arms 1, comprising the cage or receiver for the ball or otherarticle, are joined to a cylindrical sleeve or stem 4, exteriorly screwthreaded as at 5. Mounted for independently revoluble and axial movementwithin the cylindrical sleeve or hollow stem 4, is the imprinting ormarking head 6 having the integral stem or shaft '7 extending Within thebearing sleeve 4. The stem or shaft 7, of the marking head 6, isprovided with intersecting peripheral and longitudinal grooves or slots8 into which projects a stud 9 carried by the bearing sleeve 4. When themarking or imprinting head 6 and its stem 7 are in their retracted orinoperative position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the stud 9 registerswith the peripheral groove 8 and the marking head is free to rotate.When, however, by its rotary adjustment the longitudinal slot 8 of thestem 7 is aligned with the stud 9, the marking or imprinting head 6 andits stem or shaft '7 are capable of axial movement into imprintingcontact with the ball or other article held within the receiver or cageformed by the arms 1. To effect such axial movement of the imprinting ormarking head under pressure, there is provided a cap 11 screw threadedupon the sleeve at and bearing interiorly upon the extremity of themarking head stem or shaft '7. By screwing the adjusting cap 11 uponsuch threaded sleeve, the marking head 6 is forced axially against theball or other article to be marked with considerable pressure.

The marking type or characters carried by the head 6 are disposed in aconcentric annular series,

' and in somewhat converging relation. The head 6 is provided with aseries of peripheral pockets or notches 12, each of which is adapted toreceive a type or character element 13. These type elements are equallyinclined to the axis of the head in a uniform converging relation andafford a substantially concave contact surface for engagement with thespherical surface of the ball. The type recesses or pockets 12 areradially disposed and are so proportioned that their depth issubstantially equal to their radial extent. While any suitable type or.marking characters may be employed, the preferable marking elements arecommercial type obtainable upon the market which are manufactured foruse in letter duplicating machines, which type, however, are preferablymade of a special hard alloy which will possess greater durability underthe pressure to which the type or marking elements are subjected. Such acommercial form of type member which,.per se, forms no part of thepresent invention, is illustrated in Fig. 7. The radial pockets orrecesses to receive such type are preferably providedwith a slightshoulder or offset 13 at their inner sides which is overhung by the bodyportion of the type'elements. The several type elements are retainedwithin the radially disposed peripheral pockets or recesses of theimprinting head by a retainer ring 14 screw threaded upon the head 6 at15 and having a converging or tapered inner surface bearing upon thetype members and exerting an inwardly directed camming action tosecurely hold such type members in their seats. By removing theretaining ring 14, the type members may be interchanged to 7 effectdifferent imprinted inscriptions.

For the purpose of inking the type elements carried by the head 6, thereis pivoted upon one of the receiver or cage arms 1, a swinging arm 17 Mgcarrying at its extremity an inking roller 18 which, when the arm 17 isoscillated to its operative position, contacts with the adjacent typefaces, when the head 6 is in its retracted position. In such position,as before stated, the stud 9 registers with the peripheral groove orslot 8 and the imprinting or marking head is therefore capable of beingfreely rotated while the inking roller 18 is held in contact therewith.Thus the succeeding type faces or characters are progressively presentedin contact with the inking roller 18 to receive a deposit of inktherefrom. The arm 17 is spring retracted by means of the spring 19surrounding the pivotal mounting of the arm 17. The mounting arm 1, ofthe main frame, is provided with a recess or pocket 20therein to receivethe arm 17 and inking roller 18 when in their retracted positions. Theend of the arm 17, opposite the inking roller 18, is extended somewhatbeyond the cage or receiver in position to be easily accessible for thepurpose of oscillating the arm 17 against the tension of its retractingspring 19 into operative engagement with the marking characters carriedby the head 6. Upon release of the arm 17, the spring 19 immediatelyreturns the inking roller 18 into the pocket or recess 20 within whichit is normally held. The pocket or housing 20 is so shaped as to protectthe inking roller 18 and prevent the operators fingers accidentallycoming in contact therewith. The exterior surface of the compression nut01' cap 11 is suitably roughened or ribbed, preferably 1'.

ribbed, to enable it to be firmly grasped for rotation whereby themarking head is placed under pressure.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is ther fore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an imprinting device of the character described, a holder for thearticle to be marked, a marker head capable of independent rotary andaxial motion relative to theholder, means for moving the marking headaxially under pressure, and a retractible inking device engageable withthe marking head during its rotary motion.

2. In an imprinting device of the character described, a holder for thearticle to be marked, a marking head movable relative to the holder.against an article held therein, said head being capable of rotarymotion in one position of adjustment relative to the holder and heldagainst such rotation in another position of such relative adjustment.

3. In an imprinting device of the character described, a holder for anarticle to be marked, a retractible imprinting head adapted to beprojected into engagement with an article within the holder, said headbeing freely rotatable when in its retracted position, and means forlocking the head against rotation when projected from its retractedposition toward the holder.

4.. In an imprinting device of the character described, a holder for anarticle to be marked, a retractible imprinting head, a stem therefor, abearing for the stem in which the stem is capable of both rotary andlongitudinal motion, a peripheral groove in the stem, a longitudinalgroove in the stem intersecting the peripheral groove, and a studextending into the peripheral groove when the head is in its retractedposition and permitting free rotation of the head and stem butpreventing longitudinal movement thereof until the longitudinal grooveis in registry with the stud, and extending into the longitudinal groovewhen the head is projected from its retracted position to prevent rotarymotion thereof.

5. An imprinting device of the character described, including aholderfor the article to be marked, an exteriorly threaded bearing sleevepositioned contiguous thereto, a reciprocatory pressure device mountedin the bearing sleeve, marking characters carried thereby, and a capthreaded upon the exterior of the bearing sleeve and engaging thepressure device to forcibly project the marking characters intoengagement with the article within the holder. 7 g

6. An imprinting device of the character described, a holder for thearticle to be marked, a

-, marking head to be pressed against the article Within the holder, aretractible inking device mounted upon the holder and movable into andout of contact engagement with the marking head, means for enablingrelative movement of the inking device and marking head whilemaintaining their contact engagement with each other and means forefiecting contact engagement of the marking head with the article.

'7. An imprinting device of the character described, a holder forthe-article to be marked, a marking head to be pressed against thearticle within the holder, a pocket in the interior face of the holder,an inking pad normally contained within the pocket, and a mounting forthe inking pad by which the pad may be projected from said pocket intoengagement with marking head and thence retracted into the pocket, andmeans for efiectingcontact engagement of the marking head and article.

8. In a golf ball marker or the like, a cagelike holder against one sideof which the ball to be marked abuts, a bearing sleeve at the oppositeside of the holder substantially in alignment with the axis of a ballpositioned within the holder, a marking head, a stem therefor mounted insaid bearing sleeve, means for adjusting the head into pressure contactwith a ball within the holder, a pocket interiorly of the holder, an armpivoted to the holder, an inking pad normal- 1y positioned in thepocket, a pivoted arm upon which the pad is supported by oscillation ofwhich it is projected into engagement with the marking head.

9. In a golf ball marker, a cage-like holder comprising a plurality ofcurved arms radially disposed and interconnected at their extremities, amarking head supported thereby, one of the arms being interiorlyrecessed, an oscillatory arm contiguous thereto and an inking pad car-I'i ried by the arm and positioned within the recess engagement of themarking head and ball.

10. In a golf ball marker, a holder for the ball to be marked, a markinghead capable of both rotary and axial movement, an inking pad, a carriertherefor mounted upon the device and adapted to project the pad intocontact with the marking head by rotation of which the characterscarried thereby are presented in engagement with the inking pad, areceiving pocket into which the pad is retracted upon reverse movementof the carrier, and means for effecting contact engagement of themarking head and ball.

11; In a golf ball marker, a holder for the ball to be marked, a markinghead engageable with a ball within the holder, an inking device mountedcontiguous to the holder, and adapted to be projected into engagementwith the marking head, a pocket having its access opening interiorly ofthe holder into which the inking device is retractible, and means foreffecting contact engagement of the marking head and ball.

12. In a golf ball marker, a holder for the ball to be marked, a markinghead engageable with a ball within the holder, an inking devicepivotally mounted for swinging movement into and out of engagement withthe marking head, a pocket having its access opening interiorly of theholder into which the swinging inking device is retractible, and meansfor effecting contact engagement of the marking head and ball.

13. In a golf ball marker or the like, a holder for the ball to bemarked, a pressure head having therein a series of rectangular typereceiving recesses, the width and depth of which are substantiallyequal, rectangular type bodies positioned therein, retaining means forretaining the type within said recesses, and actuating means foreifecting contact engagement of the ball and the pressure head.

14. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a holder for the ball tobe marked, an adjustable pressure head having therein a circular seriesof type receiving pockets inclined to the axis of said head, the radialextent and depth of said pockets being substantially equal, type bodiestherein and means for relatively adjusting the pressure head and ballholder to forcibly apply the type bodies to a ball within the holder.

15. In a golf ball marker the combination with a holder for the ball tobe marked, of a marking head, a succession of radially disposed,relatively spaced rectangular pockets therein, adapted to hold aplurality of substantially cubical type, a plurality of substantiallycubical type interchangeably carried thereby, and means for relativelyadjusting the marking head and ball holder to forcibly apply the typebodies to a ball within the holder.

16. In a golf ball marker the combination with a holder for a ball to bemarked, an adjustable pressure head having therein a series ofperipheral radially disposed notches to receive marking type bodies,said notches being rabbeted at their inner sides, a retaining collarsurrounding the type bodies, and adjusting means for the pressure headto forcibly apply the type bodies to a ball within the holder.

17. In a golf ball marker, a holder for the ball to be marked, anadjustable marking head capable of both rotary and longitudinal motion,a mounting stem therefor, a bearing sleeve in which the stem is mounted,one of said latter members having therein a peripheral groove and alongitudinal groove intersecting the peripheral groove, a projectioncarried by the other of said members and projecting within one or theother Lie of said intersecting grooves whereby when said projection iswithin the peripheral groove the head and stem are capable of rotarymotion but are held against longitudinal motion and when within thelongitudinal groove the head and stem are capable of longitudinal motionbut are held against rotary motion, and means for adjusting the markinghead longitudinally into marking engagement with a ball within theholder.

18. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a holder for a ball tobe marked of an adjustable marking head capable of both rotary andlongitudinal motion, detent means preventing longitudinal motion of thehead until rotated to a predetermined position, and detent meanspreventing rotary motion of the head until adjusted to a predeterminedlongitudinal position.

19. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a holder for the ball tobe marked, of an adjustable marking head capable of both rotary andaxial motion, an adjustably mounted inking device engageable with themarking head during the rotary motion thereof to distribute thereon adeposit of ink, and pressure means for moving the marking head axiallyinto engagement with a ball within the holder.

20. In an imprinting device of the character described, a main frame, anarticle abutment thereon, a marking head carried by the main frame, saidabutment and marking head being relatively adjustable to squeeze anarticle interposed therebetween, said head being rotatably mounted, andan inking device engaged thereby in its rotary motion for progressivelyapplying ink thereto preparatory to its squeezing engagement with thearticle to effect an imprinted impression thereon.

21. In an imprinting device of the character described, a main frame, anarticle abutment thereon, a marking head carried by the main frame, saidabutment and marking head being relatively adjustable to squeeze anarticle interposed therebetween, and a rotatable inking device havingcontact engagement with the marking head for progressively applying inkthereto preparatory to its squeezing engagement with the article to bemarked.

22. In an imprinting device of the character described, a main frame, anarticle abutment thereon, a marking head carried by the main frame, saidabutment and marking head being relatively adjustable to squeeze anarticle interposed therebetween, and an inking device having contactwith the marking head, said inking device and marking head beingrelatively movable while in contacting engagement with each other forprogressively applying ink to the marking head preparatory to itssqueezing engagement with the article to be marked.

23. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a press for subjecting agolf ball to a marking pressure, of an embossing head, a plurality ofinterchangeable type carried thereby and grouped in a circular series tocollectively present a concave marking surface for contact with theball, the individual type bodies of the group being uniformly inclinedrelative to the lineal direction of the marking pressure.

24. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a press for subjecting agolf ball to a marking pressure, of an embossing head, a plurality ofinterchangeable type carried thereby in like inclined relation to eachother and to the axis of the ball, whereby the pressure thereon will beuniformly distributed.

25. A portable golf ball marking device including an abutment for theball to be marked, a marking head cooperating with the abutment tosqueeze the ball therebetween, means for relatively adjusting theabutment and marking head, an ink pad adjustably mounted in relationwith the marking head for progressive contacting engagement therewithpreparatory to engagement of the marking head with the ball to bemarked.

26. In a golf ball marker, the combination with a holder for the ball tobe marked, of a marking head, a circular series of radially disposedrectangular relatively spaced sockets formed in said head to receiveindependent type members, a plurality of type members interchangeablypositioned in said spaced sockets, retaining means for the type, andmeans for relatively adjusting the marking head and ball holder toforcibly apply said type to the ball.

I HARRY W. MOORE.

